What you didn't know about Joe Mills, the younger brother of Enos

The fascinating history of Estes Park begins with the men and women whose stories are as engaging as the beautiful scenery we see. Jim Pickering's new book, "Joe Mills of Estes Park: A Colorado Life," is a full-length biography of the builder-owner of the historic Crags Hotel and one of Estes Park's most important early citizens. Come to the Estes Park Senior Center for a 2 p.m. program by the author and Mill's granddaughter on Saturday, Oct. 5 to get your first glimpse into the life of this extraordinary man. The book is published by the Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation Press and is now available for purchase at the Estes Park Museum and Macdonald Book Shop in downtown Estes Park.

Pickering's look into the life of Joe Mills gives us the picture of a many-faceted man who had great impact on Estes Park, but that was just part of his story. Put away in storage, it was only a matter of time for his story to be told.

As the granddaughter of Joe and Ethel Mills, Pat Washburn says, "It all began with the trunks. When my grandmother died, I became the repository of two trunks filled with my grandfather's photos and memorabilia. For several years they languished in my storage unit, but about a year ago we took them to the museum and had an 'opening' with Jim Pickering present. We discovered a treasure trove of sports photos, negatives of local scenery, and a number of manuscripts. Jim Pickering became intrigued with Joe's sports history, primarily as a football player and coach, which accounts for a significant portion of the book. We also wanted to tell the story of Joe's impact on the history and growth of Estes Park as a mecca for tourists. I think folks will be surprised and pleased to learn much more about Enos Mills' younger brother."

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The Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation, Inc. is thrilled to present this newest part of Estes Park history through the Friends Press. Now is the perfect time to join the Friends to help ensure our local history is preserved. Visit the Friends' website: estesparkmusuemfriends.org for more information or come by the museum at 200 Fourth Street.